Conakry, Guinea
Boubacour Diallo (18)
“I was born like this. It is God’s will. People sometimes laugh at me, but that doesn’t bother me. I am an honest Muslim. I don’t fear death.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 8, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Boubacour Diallo (18)
“I was born like this. It is God’s will. People sometimes laugh at me, but that doesn’t bother me. I am an honest Muslim. I don’t fear death.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Mohamed Diabatis (61)
“Two years ago I lost my right eye, and have only 50 percent vision in my left. I am a positive man, but how can I work if I go completely blind? I fight to survive.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 8, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Mohamed Diabatis (61)
“Two years ago I lost my right eye, and have only 50 percent vision in my left. I am a positive man, but how can I work if I go completely blind? I fight to survive.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Makone Soumaoro (30)
“My neck doesn’t hurt, but I worry that it swells so much. I hope it is not a tumor, because I’m a housewife and my husband and children need me.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 17, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Makone Soumaoro (30)
“My neck doesn’t hurt, but I worry that it swells so much. I hope it is not a tumor, because I’m a housewife and my husband and children need me.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Barry El Boubacar (61)
“I’m an imam, but because of my cataracts I cannot carry out my vocation. An imam should go among his people, bringing harmony and solving conflicts. I wish I could see again.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 8, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Barry El Boubacar (61)
“I’m an imam, but because of my cataracts I cannot carry out my vocation. An imam should go among his people, bringing harmony and solving conflicts. I wish I could see again.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Fofana Mamadou (52)
“It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not a beautiful sight. People laugh. I can cover my body, but not my face. My wife left me, because she could not live with a man like me.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 10, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Fofana Mamadou (52)
“It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not a beautiful sight. People laugh. I can cover my body, but not my face. My wife left me, because she could not live with a man like me.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Mamadou Saliou Barry (20)
“Five years ago a gate fell on my head, then I started to have problems with my right leg, and it was difficult to walk. Later it turned out that my problem wasn’t a head injury, but neurofibromatosis, a severe skin disease.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 12, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Mamadou Saliou Barry (20)
“Five years ago a gate fell on my head, then I started to have problems with my right leg, and it was difficult to walk. Later it turned out that my problem wasn’t a head injury, but neurofibromatosis, a severe skin disease.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Ansman Danshuku (29)
“Years ago they cut away a tumor as big as a tennis ball from my face, and now there is a hole. I am a teacher. It is hard to stand in the classroom with a face like this.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 16, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Ansman Danshuku (29)
“Years ago they cut away a tumor as big as a tennis ball from my face, and now there is a hole. I am a teacher. It is hard to stand in the classroom with a face like this.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Mafoulé Fofana (12)
“At birth, my feet were already reversed, and my hands were missing some fingers. I’m afraid doctors can’t help with my hands, but I hope they will find a way of setting my feet right. I want to know how it is to walk straight.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 17, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Mafoulé Fofana (12)
“At birth, my feet were already reversed, and my hands were missing some fingers. I’m afraid doctors can’t help with my hands, but I hope they will find a way of setting my feet right. I want to know how it is to walk straight.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Barry Mamadou Djoulde (16)
“I dream of starting my own business to support my family. I was born with radial club hands and underdeveloped elbows.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 11, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Barry Mamadou Djoulde (16)
“I dream of starting my own business to support my family. I was born with radial club hands and underdeveloped elbows.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Mohamed Seydoula Yattana (40)
“Five months ago my eye started to itch in the middle of the night. Now, it hurts tremendously. I can’t see with it anymore, and when there is glare or sunlight it begins to weep.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 17, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Mohamed Seydoula Yattana (40)
“Five months ago my eye started to itch in the middle of the night. Now, it hurts tremendously. I can’t see with it anymore, and when there is glare or sunlight it begins to weep.”
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Conakry, Guinea
Thierno Malal Diallo (38)
“Five years ago, I felt something on my face. It was growing fast and started to hurt.”
Prior to an operation for severe ameloblastoma (tumor of the jaw), Thierno could not speak, and could barely breathe. The operation, which offered only a 50 percent chance of alleviating his condition, was successful, and further surgery is to follow.
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Panos for Mercy Ships / De Standaard

October 11, 2012

Conakry, Guinea
Thierno Malal Diallo (38)
“Five years ago, I felt something on my face. It was growing fast and started to hurt.”
Prior to an operation for severe ameloblastoma (tumor of the jaw), Thierno could not speak, and could barely breathe. The operation, which offered only a 50 percent chance of alleviating his condition, was successful, and further surgery is to follow.
People receiving treatment on Africa Mercy, a hospital ship docked at Conakry, Guinea.

Stephan Vanfleteren

Recommended

About the photographer

Stephan Vanfleteren

Stephan Vanfleteren lives and works in his native Belgium. After his photography studies he started to work as a freelancer in 1993.

His black-and-white documentary photography covers the disappearance of small, anarchic worlds and the phenomena of everyday life in Belgium, as well as events from conflict zones and portrayals of everyday life around the world.

After working for the daily edition of De Morgen newspaper in the past, Vanfleteren now contributes to its weekend supplements.

His association with World Press Photo includes participation in the 1998 Joop Swart Masterclass, receiving awards in different categories, as well as serving on the jury of three World Press Photo Contests. Vanfleteren's work has been exhibited throughout Western Europe.

Books presenting his photography are Elvis & Presley, Tales from a Globalizing World, Flandrien, Belgicum and his recent photobook Portret 1989/2009 about portraits of artists and important people in Belgium and Holland.

Interviews

An interview with Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren about his award-winning portrait series "People of Mercy".

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